Celebrity Gladiators 2025 line-up in full
Which famous faces will go up against the Gladiators?
The Gladiators’ reboot has been a huge hit for the BBC so it’s no surprise that a celebrity special is heading to our screens — and now it’s been confirmed that it will feature in the Christmas schedules.
Gladiators made an explosive return to our screens in early 2024 with 16 new stars breathing new life into the 1990s ITV reality series, with Bradley and Barney Walsh on hosting duties.
Viewers were gripped as they cheered on their favourites each week and the show quickly became the biggest entertainment launch for a new series in seven years, with 28-day figures showing that 9.8m viewers watched the first episode.
A celebrity special was quickly commissioned to be filmed alongside the upcoming second series of the fitness challenge, and will air on BBC One as a Christmas TV highlight.
When will Celebrity Gladiators be on TV?
The hour-long Gladiators celebrity special will air on BBC One at 6pm on New Year’s Day. Filming took place at Sheffield’s Utilita Arena on 7 August 2024.
Who is starring in the Gladiators celebrity special?
The four celebrities taking on the Gladiators are comedian Rob Beckett, TV presenter and triathlete Louise Minchin, presenter and comedian Joel Dommett, and Ted Lasso star Ellie Taylor. The stars will face the ultimate test of speed and strength up against the power of the Gladiators before going head to head in the iconic Eliminator. Find out more about them below:
Rob Beckett
Comedian Rob Beckett committed to getting in shape in 2022. Beckett, 38, told The Sun he wanted to be ripped by the age of 40. “My diet is an absolute horror show. I’m being kind to myself because this year has been really busy, but from next year, you watch. I turn 37 in January which gives me three years to do a Gary Barlow and get absolutely ripped before I’m 40.”
Talking about taking part in Gladiators, Beckett said: “I can’t wait to be absolutely crushed by the Gladiators in front my wife and children in spandex whilst I watch Joel Dommett and his six pack sprint past me on the travelator. This is going to be a catastrophic humiliation in front of the nation. I’ve got no idea why I agreed to this. Is it too late to pull out?”
Louise Minchin
BBC News’s Louise Minchin is a committed triathlete and is often found pushing herself to the limits of physical endurance with various fitness challenges including Chile’s Patagonman, an extreme triathlon which includes swimming 3.8km and cycling 108km before then finishing with a marathon.
Talking about Celebrity Gladiators, 56-year-old Minchin said: “I am so excited to be on Gladiators, I have watched the show for years and have always thought it looked like terrifying fun and I can’t wait to be part of it!”
Joel Dommett
Superfit Masked Singer host Joel Dommett runs three miles every day to and from sessions in the gym, as well as longer runs at the weekend, making him the ideal celeb to take on the mighty Gladiators. He’s also hooked on CrossFit, telling Gay Times: “Honestly, give it a go. It will change everything for you! It’s a real cult, as soon as you’re involved, you’re stuck. It’s a great thing to be addicted to.”
About taking part in Celebrity Gladiators, Dommett said “I can’t believe I’m taking part in Gladiators! It’s always been my dream to be on that travelator. I’ve been illegally running up escalators backwards all my life in preparation and now it’s happening for real. Super excited to be up against all my favourite muscley people in leotards and have some fun!”
Ellie Taylor
After taking on Strictly Come Dancing, Ted Lasso star Ellie Taylor will be stepping into the arena to take on the Gladiators, and hopes to ask Viper some pressing questions.
About taking on the Gladiators, Taylor said: “Me being on Celeb Gladiators is the answer to the question ‘What’s the most elaborate thing you’d do to get your 5-year-old a foam finger?’ We all love the show in my house and I’m so excited to take part! I can’t wait to get chased by athletic goddesses and ask Viper about his childhood.”
Who will host the Gladiators celebrity special?
The celebrity special will be presented by father and son duo Bradley and Barney Walsh. The pair also co-host the main Gladiators show.
Gladiators: Celebrity Special will air on BBC One at 6pm on New Year’s Day.
